Lake Erie College and Fairport Harding High School Launch Early College Partnership

Lake Erie College and Fairport Harbor Exempted Village (FHEV) School District have received formal approval by the Ohio Department of Education to offer an Early College in High School program. By way of this agreement, utilizing the state’s popular College Credit Plus (CCP) program, students will have the opportunity to earn up to 30 credits at Lake Erie College. This Agreement prioritizes access for students who are underrepresented regarding completing post-secondary education, students who are economically disadvantaged (as defined by the Ohio Department of Education).

The unique aspect of this agreement is that it affords students who take courses as a part of this agreement access to Lake Erie College resources, such as academic advising, careers services, and student counseling in collaboration with Fairport Harbor schools personnel who will meet regularly with students to ensure they are maintaining sufficient progress toward Early College completion. This partnership also builds upon an already strong collaborative relationship between LEC and FHEV schools, especially in the science disciplines. Dr. John Tedesco, dean of LEC’s School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics states that, “I view supporting local and regional education as a top priority for the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. This is an opportunity for us to work closely with a local school to provide an excellent educational opportunity that will benefit to the students and our immediate community.”

This partnership also aligns with a continuing commitment to supporting and partnering with local schools to improve access to higher education for Lake County students. According to Dr. Bryan DePoy, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, “This partnership will enable students to gain a valuable and rigorous academic experience, and accelerate their path to degree attainment.” He continues by saying that, “for motivated and dedicated high school students, we are seeking to facilitate and personalize the transition to the Lake Erie College higher education experience.”

Of this agreement, Dr. Domenic Paolo, Superintendent of the FHEV School District, and a strong proponent of creating challenging and innovative approaches to higher education attainment reinforces the importance and uniqueness of this partnership by stating, “Lake Erie College provides the type of caring and supportive learning environment that is essential for assuring success for all students; I am proud that this partnership is available to my students and faculty.”

Fairport Harding High School students interested in this program should see their guidance counselor for more information. For rules and regulations specific to Ohio’s CCP program, please refer to the Ohio Department of Higher Education website for more information: https://www.ohiohighered.org/ccp/faqs